U.S. Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton delivers remarks during a news conference at the
U.S. Consulate in Vladivostok, September 9,
2012.Jim
Watson/Reuters

ABC News published an article Friday featuring
leaked emails from top Democratic operatives Marlon Marshall
and Robby Mook, who repeatedly referred to themselves as a
"mafia" and made provocative comments about Republicans.
Afterwards, two of their former colleagues spoke to Business
Insider about what they called a "backhanded" and "petty" leak.

Both Mook and Marshall are widely seen as top candidates to
manage Hillary Clinton's potential 2016 White House bid. The
operatives who spoke to Business Insider characterized the leaks
as an attempt to sabotage them in the Clinton campaign
sweepstakes.

"The fact that someone is pushing these private emails just
highlights how seriously folks are taking the rumors that Robby
and Marlon could occupy top-level positions in a Clinton
campaign," Lynda Tran, a partner at 270 Strategies, a consulting
firm Marshall co-founded, told Business Insider.

In addition to his work at 270
Strategies, Marshall was deputy national field director for
President Barack Obama's 2012 campaign. In 2008, he worked for
Obama's campaign in Missouri. Before working with Obama, he
was field director for Clinton's unsuccessful 208 presidential
bid in Nevada, Indiana, and Ohio.

Mook worked as state directors in the same three states for
Clinton in 2008. He went on to manage the campaign of Sen. Jeanne
Shaheen (D-NH) that year before joining the Democratic
Congressional Campaign Committee.

Vietor argued both Marshall and Mook have an "outstanding
reputation" that would not be tainted by the email leak.

"This is a story that Washington will forget about in about 12
hours and it will never be thought of again," Vietor said. "It's
like a bogus little attempt to embarrass these guys. It's not
going to work, they have an outstanding reputation."

He went on to describe the leak as "a petty and transparent
attempt to try to embarrass them" in some way that "says more
about the person who leaked it than it."

"They spoke casually on an email chain," said Vietor. "Who
doesn't?"

Tran also argued the emails, which were sent out to a group of
political operatives over the course of a few years, showed Mook
and Marshall's strengths.

"On one hand, it's a shame that anyone would think it appropriate
to publicize messages that were clearly intended for a friendly,
informal audience — and you have to take anything excerpted from
years worth of emails with a grain of salt," said Tran. "But it's
also a backhanded way of showcasing their talents, as the
messages show both Robby and Marlon have consistently inspired
campaign staffers from across the country to stay involved, keep
organizing, and help ensure voters make their voices heard. That
they were able to unite and motivate organizers for years on end
to commit to the sometimes thankless work of political campaigns
is arguably one of the strongest arguments for putting them at
the top of any presidential effort."

Vietor echoed Tran's assessment that the emails demonstrated
Marshall and Mook's ability to lead other operatives.

"They clearly were joking around to kind of inspire and motivate
their troops to work hard," he said. "I hope they keep doing
it."

Neither Mook or Marshall responded to a request for comment from
Business Insider.